My unemployed story

jaxxx

I'm fast approaching the big 3-0. I left college at 21 because I hated it. Some people just aren't meant for an academic career. Ever since then I've been applying for any job I saw that was the least bit suitable: retail (Tesco, Lidl, etc), Warehousing, Factories, etc. I cannot even fathom the amount of applications I've made throughout the years. I've only had 2 jobs, both of which were on a temporary basis. In both of those jobs I worked hard, turned up on time, did my absolute best. And yet my actual time in employment accumulates to only 2 years. I've doie training courses, attended seminars, utilised pretty much all options available and nothing. I don't know whether it's something I'm doing, whether the universe has it out for me or whether I'm just unlucky.

And yet everyday I see people in jobs who would rather be at home scratching their butt, putting in not even 50% effort. And quite the opposite as well, seeing unemployed people who have no intention of ever finding jobs, only attending meetings and stuff they were told to attend by the Social Welfare so that they can keep their claims.

The thing that terrifies me is possible employers looking at my CV and thinking "wow he has no experience for someone his age". Being unemployed is soul destroying, affecting me both physically and mentally. You know what I would absolutely love? Instead of getting my claim every week for doing shag all, I would love to be placed in some temporary means of unpaid work, even for only 20 hours a week. If you go into an interview and say "yes I'm claiming jobseeker's at the moment, but I do unpaid work 20 hours a week for my jobseekers claim", then surely that would make someone in my position more favourable to actually securing employment? And yet I've never been able to get onto one of them CE schemes or similar. I know Jobbridge is gone, and good riddance to it, but there was slight merit to it. It was just executed poorly because so many employers were abusing it for what was essentially 'free labour'. Bring in a system that gives people actual experience, but put measures in place so that it cannot be abused like Jobbridge was.

Naos

jaxxx wrote: »

I'm fast approaching the big 3-0. I left college at 21 because I hated it. Some people just aren't meant for an academic career. Ever since then I've been applying for any job I saw that was the least bit suitable: retail (Tesco, Lidl, etc), Warehousing, Factories, etc. I cannot even fathom the amount of applications I've made throughout the years. I've only had 2 jobs, both of which were on a temporary basis. In both of those jobs I worked hard, turned up on time, did my absolute best. And yet my actual time in employment accumulates to only 2 years. I've doie training courses, attended seminars, utilised pretty much all options available and nothing. I don't know whether it's something I'm doing, whether the universe has it out for me or whether I'm just unlucky.

And yet everyday I see people in jobs who would rather be at home scratching their butt, putting in not even 50% effort. And quite the opposite as well, seeing unemployed people who have no intention of ever finding jobs, only attending meetings and stuff they were told to attend by the Social Welfare so that they can keep their claims.

The thing that terrifies me is possible employers looking at my CV and thinking "wow he has no experience for someone his age". Being unemployed is soul destroying, affecting me both physically and mentally. You know what I would absolutely love? Instead of getting my claim every week for doing shag all, I would love to be placed in some temporary means of unpaid work, even for only 20 hours a week. If you go into an interview and say "yes I'm claiming jobseeker's at the moment, but I do unpaid work 20 hours a week for my jobseekers claim", then surely that would make someone in my position more favourable to actually securing employment? And yet I've never been able to get onto one of them CE schemes or similar. I know Jobbridge is gone, and good riddance to it, but there was slight merit to it. It was just executed poorly because so many employers were abusing it for what was essentially 'free labour'. Bring in a system that gives people actual experience, but put measures in place so that it cannot be abused like Jobbridge was.

Very good points and I feel for you, hopefully you will find something soon.

In the meantime, have you tried volunteering anywhere? You can get some good experience, looks good on the CV, will do you good mentally and proves that you haven't just been sitting around on you arse all day.

dxhound2005

People of working age fall into a few categories.

Employed currently 2.2 million approx.
Unemployed 235,000.
Unemployed but doing Community Employment and other schemes 60,000.
University students 120,000.

The most hated of the schemes was Jobbridge. But it only ever allowed a max of 8,000 entrants and more usually this number was around 5,000 places actually taken up. I can't understand the animosity towards the schemes. They allow anyone interested to get involved in some activity, and if someone is not interested then they don't have to participate. Why is this sector which is only about 0.25% of the people of working age attracting so much attention?

jaxxx

Naos wrote: »

Very good points and I feel for you, hopefully you will find something soon.

In the meantime, have you tried volunteering anywhere? You can get some good experience, looks good on the CV, will do you good mentally and proves that you haven't just been sitting around on you arse all day.

Good point. I've not been in the best headspace for a while so I've always put that to the back of my mind and suppose completely forgot about it. Now that you mention it though, I'm gonna look into it. Cheers.

Avatar MIA

Naos wrote: »

- Source

Your source is a blog post?

See? Give people the tools and incentives and they’ll help themselves. https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0302/944671-dublin-store-investigation/

Avatar MIA

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

Jobpath is more disliked than jobbridge and isn't optional.

It can be refused, and lose benefits.
A job can be sourced, and I'm not being facetious - there are minimum wage jobs out there.

AndrewJRenko

dxhound2005 wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Schemes like these, low-paid and no-paid internships promote inequality. Those who have family or other resources to fall back on are able to take part, and build their careers. Those who don't have family resources, and those who rely on income for food or paying for childcare can't participate - and are less likely to build a career as a result.

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Your source is a blog post?

Is there any part of the blog post, based on the Indecon report, that you disagree with or that doesn't stand up?

Permabear wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

The scheme was intended to lower the unemployment numbers to make it look like the Government was making progress. That was the sole objective.

Permabear wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Interesting again that this is the one kind of 'government intervention' that you seem to support, compared to, for example, direct payments to job seekers to improve their own education or skills.

It is also interesting to see that you're so happy to ignore the whole value for money question. Was this the best way to spend those funds, even if you do accept the value of Government intervention? And of course, the question that Indecon conveniently ignored, how many real jobs did the scheme displace?

Avatar MIA

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Is there any part of the blog post, based on the Indecon report, that you disagree with or that doesn't stand up?

After I realised it was a blog I stopped reading. The jist was that it was disagreeing with some report that claimed 61% success rate for jobsbridge.

A blog is not a credible source.

Avatar MIA

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

There just aren't that many jobs going - even my jobpath advisor says as much.

https://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/4-Operations-Representative-Customer-Service-8133307.aspx 4 jobsAs little experience as possible in 21st century Ireland

https://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Temp-Associate-Operations-Analyst-12-8133280.aspx Limited experience required

This one would be a tough gig, but guaranteed nearly twice the dole - https://www.irishjobs.ie/Jobs/Sales-Representative-8129036.aspx

Jackson's Hotel looking for staff. Can't post link because it takes straight to application.


5 minutes of googling - Maybe you've applied for these and others. Why did you not succeed in getting these jobs, and what have you done to repair the shortfalls. Maybe saving up and moving from Donegal may be required.

BTW, these are rhetorical questions - don't expect answers.

AndrewJRenko

Avatar MIA wrote: »

After I realised it was a blog I stopped reading. The jist was that it was disagreeing with some report that claimed 61% success rate for jobsbridge.

A blog is not a credible source.

So there isn't anything in that post that you can actually point to as being incorrect. That's pretty much what I thought.

Avatar MIA

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

I'm trying to save up to leave but that takes time as well. A lot of applications put in that it takes time to hear back from too.

Good luck, and keep a lookout for areas outside Dublin that could still have good entry level jobs. Unfortunately Dublin is very expensive.

Avatar MIA

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So there isn't anything in that post that you can actually point to as being incorrect. That's pretty much what I thought.

You haven't read my post, bit like me with that blog post. :pac::p Have you ever completed an academic paper/assignment - Would you ever cite a blog post?

Doctor Jimbob

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

In 5 minutes you've been able to give me more employment support than jobpath has in a few months, so again, what exactly is the point of them?

I'm trying to save up to leave but that takes time as well. A lot of applications put in that it takes time to hear back from too.

They seem to be for people who lack the ability to source jobs or training for themselves. Not everyone is computer literate or have the social skills necessary to get and keep a job.

AndrewJRenko

Avatar MIA wrote: »

You haven't read my post, bit like me with that blog post. :pac::p Have you ever completed an academic paper/assignment - Would you ever cite a blog post?

Is this an academic paper/assignment? No - so why would that be relevant.

So again I ask, is there anything in the blog post that you disagree with?

Avatar MIA

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Is this an academic paper/assignment? No - so why would that be relevant.

Ah, I was kinda hoping we were expecting sources to be credible. Carry on...

BTW, I'm not reading it, so if that's the summit of your argument, you win.

AndrewJRenko

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Ah, I was kinda hoping we were expecting sources to be credible. Carry on...

I was kinda hoping we would judge sources by what they say, rather than by the channel used.

dxhound2005

When Jobbridge was being discussed there were repeated claims that it was mandatory. But nowhere near the 8,000 maximum placements allowed was ever achieved. And there were over 100,000 long term unemployed at the time.

Now there are 96,000 long term unemployed, who have avoided being put on JobPath or any of the other schemes. How do they remain outside the system for so long if the schemes are mandatory?

Referral to JobPath
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection selects jobseekers on a random basis for referral to JobPath.

Avatar MIA

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I was kinda hoping we would judge sources by what they say, rather than by the channel used.

No, unless it's backed up by facts (then quote those as source) then it's only opinion, and shur, we get enough of that here. :pac:

AndrewJRenko

Avatar MIA wrote: »

No, unless it's backed up by facts (then quote those as source) then it's only opinion, and shur, we get enough of that here. :pac:

You mean, something like the Indecon report extensively quoted in the blog post?

If you didn't read it, how can you judge whether it is backed up or not?

Avatar MIA

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You mean, something like the Indecon report extensively quoted in the blog post?

If you didn't read it, how can you judge whether it is backed up or not?

Link to the external sources (non blog) and I'll read it.

AndrewJRenko

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Link to the external sources (non blog) and I'll read it.

That's just silly.

Avatar MIA

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

That's just silly.

Okay.

weldoninhio

jaxxx wrote: »

I'm fast approaching the big 3-0. I left college at 21 because I hated it. Some people just aren't meant for an academic career. Ever since then I've been applying for any job I saw that was the least bit suitable: retail (Tesco, Lidl, etc), Warehousing, Factories, etc. I cannot even fathom the amount of applications I've made throughout the years. I've only had 2 jobs, both of which were on a temporary basis. In both of those jobs I worked hard, turned up on time, did my absolute best. And yet my actual time in employment accumulates to only 2 years. I've doie training courses, attended seminars, utilised pretty much all options available and nothing. I don't know whether it's something I'm doing, whether the universe has it out for me or whether I'm just unlucky.

And yet everyday I see people in jobs who would rather be at home scratching their butt, putting in not even 50% effort. And quite the opposite as well, seeing unemployed people who have no intention of ever finding jobs, only attending meetings and stuff they were told to attend by the Social Welfare so that they can keep their claims.

The thing that terrifies me is possible employers looking at my CV and thinking "wow he has no experience for someone his age". Being unemployed is soul destroying, affecting me both physically and mentally. You know what I would absolutely love? Instead of getting my claim every week for doing shag all, I would love to be placed in some temporary means of unpaid work, even for only 20 hours a week. If you go into an interview and say "yes I'm claiming jobseeker's at the moment, but I do unpaid work 20 hours a week for my jobseekers claim", then surely that would make someone in my position more favourable to actually securing employment? And yet I've never been able to get onto one of them CE schemes or similar. I know Jobbridge is gone, and good riddance to it, but there was slight merit to it. It was just executed poorly because so many employers were abusing it for what was essentially 'free labour'. Bring in a system that gives people actual experience, but put measures in place so that it cannot be abused like Jobbridge was.

There are literally loads of charities etc that take on volunteers. Why wait for the govt to put you somewhere? Go out and do it yourself.

weldoninhio

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

In 5 minutes you've been able to give me more employment support than jobpath has in a few months, so again, what exactly is the point of them?

I'm trying to save up to leave but that takes time as well. A lot of applications put in that it takes time to hear back from too.

The more pertinent question would be why you haven’t been looking for these roles??

na1

Private companies shouldn’t be anywhere near the social welfare system and it sickens me that my tax goes to private companies to kick jobless people when they are down, humiliate them by standing them in a car park in front of friends and neighbours and parents from my kids activities.

Most people end up out of work at some stage in their life.

As long as the government just worries about the total live register numbers, this will happen.
The companies should be awarded proportional to the length  of the unemployment:
If the person is just out of work - they get nothing.
If the person is 10+ years on JA they get the maximum award.

weldoninhio

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

At no point have I stated that I've been ruling out any kinds of roles. Just because I don't see every job posting at a given point in time doesn't mean I haven't been looking.

I don't have a notion how that takes away from my questioning the point of jobpath either.

If people got off their arses and looked for jobs, instead of waiting for the govt to give them one, then there would be no need for Jobpath or its ilk.

Avatar MIA

weldoninhio wrote: »

If people got off their arses and looked for jobs, instead of waiting for the govt to give them one, then there would be no need for Jobpath or its ilk.

I don't get the impression DJ is sitting on their arse, maybe you didn't mean specifically DJ, but just in case.

weldoninhio

Avatar MIA wrote: »

I don't get the impression DJ is sitting on their arse, maybe you didn't mean specifically DJ, but just in case.

I was speaking more broadly.